Nepal defeated Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) XI by three wickets in the second practice match of their Dharamshala tour on Tuesday.

Nepal, preparing for the January 22 to February 14 U-19 World Cup to be hosted by Bangladesh, skittled out HPCA for 170 in 36.3 overs before a middle order resistance helped them reach 171-7 in 38.3 overs. Skipper Raju Rijal and Aarif Sheikh anchored the innings from the middle order after Nepal were reduced to 93-4 in 25.1 overs.

Nepal lost opener Sandeep Sunar (three) and Ishan Pandey (five) to Ankush Kumar at 25-2. Sunil Dhamala and Yogendra Karki soon put on a 34-run stand before Nepal lost the latter to Shivam Puri. Karki made 29 off 55 with two boundaries. 

Dhamala added another 34 with Rijal but gave away his wicket at 30 after hitting three fours and a six. Rijal and Sheikh then shared a match-winning 54-run partnership for the fifth wicket to take the match away from HPCA. Rijal, who had scored 65 in the first game that Nepal lost by two wickets, continued his fine form making 45 off 54 balls with two boundaries. 

Nepal lost Dipendra Airee (duck) and Saurav Khanal (four) in the space of six runs but Sheikh held firm to lead the team to victory. Sheikh scored 35 off 39 ball that included four fours. Ayush Janwal took 3-25 for HPCA.

Earlier, Digbijay Singh and Arsalan Khan (31) consolidated HPCA innings with a 57-run partnership for the second wicket but they soon collapse to 98-7 after Prem Tamang picked up three wickets and Sandeep Lamichhane had two scalps. 

Singh top scored with 51 runs off 46 deliveries with seven hits to the fence and one six. Number 9 batsman Janwal and Ritwiz Kashyap (21) staged a late fightback notching-up a 70-run partnership that guided HPCA to a respectable  total. Janwal made 47 off 41 balls with four boundaries and three sixes. Sheikh ended up taking 3-29 from 7.3 overs.